Fish tape reel

ABSTRACT

An annular reel for storing electricians&#39;&#39; fish tape, and comprising a pair of interfitting, substantially identical sections joined together near the central opening of the reel to permit access of the fish tape at the outer periphery of the reel between the sections. Each of the sections have a continuous groove defined by an inturned peripheral flange and an inwardly, radially spaced, concentric web. An elongated strip of relatively stiff material is slidably received in the groove to prevent unintentional escape of the tape between the opposed outer peripheral flanges. A tape feeder handle slidably received in the groove between the ends of the strip, and is arranged to guide and feed the tape, and further includes a finger-operated brake shoe adapted to apply pressure to the tape as it is forced into a conduit or the like.

United States Patent James M. Gardner Milwaukee, Wis. 832,173

June 11, 1969 June l-, 1971 Ga rdner Bender, Inc. Milwaukee, Wis.

inventor App]. No. Filed Patented Assignee FISH TAPE REEL 6 Claims, 5Drawing Figs.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1967 Schinske 1/1969 Niemann n13,ss2,044

Primary ExaminerRobert C. Riordon Assistant ExaminerDavid R. MeltonAlt0rneysArnold J. Ericsen and Chester W. Brown ABSTRACT: An annularreel for storing electricians fish tape, and comprising a pair ofinterfitting, substantially identical sections joined together near thecentral opening of the reel to permit access of the fish tape at theouter periphery of the reel between the sections. Each of the sectionshave a continuous groove defined by an inturned peripheral flange and aninwardly, radially spaced, concentric web. An elongated strip ofrelatively stiff material is slidably received in the groove to preventunintentional escape of the tape between the opposed outer peripheralflanges. A tape feeder handle slidably received in the groove betweenthe ends of the strip, and is arranged to guide and feed the tape, andfurther includes a finger-operated brake shoe adapted to apply pressureto the tape as it is forced into a conduit or the like.

PATENTEDJUN Han 3582.044

' SHEEY 1 [IF 2 INVENTOR JAMES M. GARDNER ATTORNEY n PATENTED JUN 1 |97lSHEET 2 0F 2 52 I 52 I I 30 33 33 INVENTOR JAMES M. GARDNER ATTORNEYBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION .The presentinvention relates to reels for storing fish tape used by electricians,and particularly to reels molded of insulating plastic sections, whichwhen joined together near the inner opening of the generally annularlyconfigured reel provide access for the tape between the joined sectionsat the outer periphery of the reel, and which further include feederhandle means for retaining and guiding the tape into and out of the reelbetween the mating sections.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Aside from containers for holding rules,surveyors measuring-tapes and plumbers *snakes," each of which provideeither a slotted opening transversely of the container for removal orinsertion of the tape, or in the case of the plumbers sriakesf veryloosely retaining the snake for removal from the inner opening, therehave been several efforts made to provide containers for tapes, such aselectricians fish tapes which are relatively small and of uniform crosssection when compared to the transverse width of the storage feel. Thelatter mentioned tapes are usually of relatively stiff, highly resilientmaterial, such as spring steel which is random wound on the inner hubportion of the reel. Such tape is difficult to contain within theconfines of the reel, particularly if the free end hits anobstacle whenbeing fed into a conduit. As will be apparent, should a portion of thetape emerge between the insulating sections of thereel, it may exposethe electrician to contact with the metal tape, should the tapeinadvertently come into contact with a hot wire during installationthereof.

One" of the first efforts in providing an electricans tape storage reelwas disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,811,945granted to Lange on June 30,I931. The Lange reel utilized a pair of spaced, flat parallel ringmembers secured to a supporting hub disposed thereb'etween'. No attemptwas made to provide an enclosed housing for the fish tape, in order toprevent it from electrical contact with the hands of an electrician. Abraking member is disclosed, which did not act directly upon the tape,but upon the hand support for purposes of retaining the tape in thereel, and not necessarily for providing a braking means on the'tape asit is being fed into a conduit. In other words, there is nothing toprevent the tape from emerging from between the parallel ring membersshould the tape hit an obstruetion, such as a sharp bend in the conduit.

In 1954, U.S. Pat. No. 2,689,709was granted to Waldschmidt, whichdisclosed a relatively elaborate and complicated construction includinga handgrip riding upon a track with rollers bearing agaihst theperipheral surface of the reel. An additional pair of rollers wasprovided to support the outer extremities of the handgrip. Thumbpressure against? a wedge acted to hold the tape in place. Although theconstruction did provide a braking action directly upon the tape, noprovision was provided for preventing the tape from passing between thering halves, should the tape hit an obstruction.

The art later developed to provide a reel including an external U-shapedchannel member which acted as a cover for the outer periphery of thereel sections. This was disclosed in the Kuzara U.S. Pat. No. 2,913,222.The construction also required additional ball bearings to providefrictional support between the cover and the ring. The latestdevelopment in the artis illustrated in U.S. Pat. No 3,355,123granted toSchinske on Nov. 281967. The Schinske patent discloses the provision ofan annular fish tape reel comprising a pair of substantially identical,interfitting sections of high-impact, dielectric material which areconnected together near the center opening of. the annular ring. Theconstruction further provides a means of forcing the outer peripheralflanges towards one anotherto prevent escape of the tape from betweenthe section, -except when it is being fed through a handle member heldslidably between the outer flanges. The handle also is providedwith arearwardly extending portion to act as a brake against the inner wall ofthe reel. There is no positive assurance, however, that the tape willnot escape between the outer flanges of the sections.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a fish tape reelcomprising two mating sections molded of insulating material. Thesections are substantially identical and of generally annularconfiguration and arranged to be joined together in the proximity of thecentral opening of the annular reel. Each of the sections further definea groove, which when mated with the groove of the opposite sectionreceives a slidable handle member and a fiat, relatively rigid stripwhich is of a length that substantially fills the remainingcircumference of the groove between the ends of the handle member. Theflat strip lies on a plane parallel to the axis of the reel. The stripacts as a positive means for prevention of egress of the tape betweenthe mating sections of the' reel, and is of such material and dimensionthat will permit the strip to freely slide in the groove as the handleis moved circumferentially of the reel to either pay out or take in thetape supported by the handle. The handle also is provided with afinger-operating brake member to retain the tape as it is being fed intoa conduit.

It will be apparent from the following description that the reelconstructed in accordance with the present invention will overcome thevarious disadvantages enumerated in connection with prior art devices,and has as one of its objects the provision of a tape reel manufacturedof a minimum number of parts which are facilely assembled to provide ahousing for a fish tape. It is another object of this invention toprovide a reel housing constructed to more positively act to maintainthe springlike tape within the housing and which is further providedwith a simplified handle or tape support cooperating with the reelhousing to guide and support the tape as it is being fed from orreturned to the confines of the housing. his a further object of thisinvention to provide a handle for 'supporting and guiding the fish tapewith a braking mechanism which acts directly upon the tape to retain thetape in place as it is being forced into a conduit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a fish tapereel incorporating the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded elevational view, in section, taken along line 2-2of FIG. 1 with the fish taken removed for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 1 illustratingthe complete assembly components of the reel;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 1, illustratingthe relationship of the braking element of the supporting handle and itscooperationwith the tape;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, of the handle member,and more clearly illustrating the braking components.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1-3,inclusive, the invention is illustrated in an embodiment comprising anelectricians fish tape reel, designated generally by the referencenumeral 10, which houses a fish tape having the general referencenumeral 11.

The tape 1 1 is of conventional configuration, usually of spring steelhaving a rectangular cross section. The reel 10 comprises,

which is of greater depth relative to that of the web 14. And having itsmarginal inner edge arranged to abut the marginal inner edge of the web16 when the sections 12 are rotated 180relative to one another. Thisarrangement provides an interlocking engagement when the marginal edges17 of the webs are in abutting contact with one another. The webs 15,when joined together, provide a-hub for receiving the tape 11 and arenotched at 18 to receive the inner end loop 19 of the tape 11, which isretained by a clampingbolt 20. The sections 12 are secured together infacing relationship, as shown in FIG. 3, in the proximity of the opening13, by means of the radially spaced bolts 20 and cooperating nuts 21.The outer surface of each section 12 is preferably countersunk in aconfiguration matching the surface of the nuts 21 in order to retain thenuts during threading assembly of the Bolts 20.

Referring again to the molded construction of each of sections 12, itwill be observed that a circular groove 25 is provided and defined by anintumed peripheral flange 26 and a concentric, continuous web 27,radially spaced inwardly of the flange 26. Groove 25 is arranged toreceive a strip 28 of flat, relatively rigid, electrically insulatingmaterial, which is slidable in the groove 25. An example of suchmaterial may be reinforced nylon, although other conventional materialsmay be used. The transverse strip 28 is substantially coextensive withthe circumference of the groove 25, but terminates at each end in theproximity of the opposite ends of the laterally extending fins 30 moldedintegrally at opposite sides of the handle or tape support member,designated generally by the reference numeral 31. The laterallyextending fin portions 30 are also slidably received in the continuousgroove 28 with laterally extending, oppositely disposed, integral finportions 32 of the handle 31 supported on the outer periphery of theflange 26. The handle is further stabilized as best seen in FIGS. 1 and3 by laterally extending foot portions 33 disposed on the opposite sideof the web 27 of each of the sections 12.

The foot portion 33 is angularly formed at its right end, when viewedrelative to FIG. 1, to provide a guiding surface for the tape 11, whichin turn is received in a channel or slot 35 molded in the handle 31. Thetape is retained from sidewise movement by upstanding ribs 36 moldedintegrally with the handle 31. A loop is usually formed at the free end(not shown) of the tape 11 for receiving a wire to be pulled through theconduit after the tape is fed therethrough.

As will be apparent from FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the handle is supplied with abraking mechanism. That is, the forward end of the handle is formed witha hollow chamber 40 for receiving a braking lever 41 pivoted at 42 andincluding a finger-operated trigger 43 at one side of the pivot 42 and atape-engaging brake shoe 44 at the opposite side of the pivot. Thus,when finger pressure is applied to the trigger 43, the lever 41 will berotated in the clockwise directive relative to FIG. 5 to force the head44 against the tape and retain the same as it is being forced into theconduit.

When the handle is moved relative to the reel 10 in a clockwisedirection relative to FIG. 1, the tape will thereby be reeled into thehandle. counterclockwise movement of the handle permits the tape 11 tobe paid out. Also, as the handle is being moved counterclockwiserelative to FIG. 1, the brake shoe 44 is released from contact with thetape 1 l to permit the tape 11 to freely slide through the chamber 35 ofthe handle. The finger-operated trigger 43 is pulled upwardly relativeto FIG. 1 to press the shoe 44 against the tape 11 and retain it inplace as it is being pushed through the conduit. The reel 10 is rotatedto pay out the tape 11 with the opposite hand of the electrician as hegrasps the generally annular member in his hand with a grip on thecorrugations of the sinuous web 14.

It will be apparent that a simplified construction of a fish tape reelcontaining a minimum number of parts has been provided by the presentinvention and a construction which overcomes the defects anddisadvantages of reels of the prior art. The construction provides apositive assurance that the tape will not be forced between the reelsections as it is being paid out and should it meet with an obstructionin the conduit. Such undesirable occurrence is prevented by thetransverse slidable strip 28 actin to enclose a]? gags resulting betweenthe mating surfaces 0 the flanges 2 o e sections 12. If so desired, thestrip 28 may be attached directly to the ends of the fins 30 of thehandle 31 by sonic welding or other known means. (Not shown) In view ofthis and other possible modifications, the invention is not intended tobe limited to the showing herein or in any other manner, except as maybe specifically required.

I claim:

1. In a fish tape reel including a housing comprising a pair ofinterfitting, substantially identical sections of generally annularconfiguration and molded of insulating material;

a tape in said housing;

means for securing said sections in said interfitting relationshipproportionate to the inner marginal opening defined by said annularhousing;

said sections including intumed, continuous peripheral flanges, a handlefor supporting and guiding said tape between said flanges and inslidable engageable relationship with said flanges;

the combination therewith of a continuous inwardly facing concentric webin each section, radially spaced from said intumed flanges to define acontinuous groove between said webs and said flanges;

a relatively flat, rigid elongated strip of electrically insulatingmaterial positioned substantially parallel with the axis of said reeland slidably received in the said grooves of said mating sections; and

said handle further including laterally extending, oppositely disposedfins slidably received in the mating grooves of said sections.

2. The reel of claim 1, wherein said slidable strip is substantiallycoextensive with the circumferential length of said grooves andterminating at both ends thereof in the proximity of said fins.

3. The reel of claim 1, wherein said handle includes at least twospaced-apart pairs of oppositely disposed, laterally extending, integralfins, one pair of said fins slidably received in said groove and anotherpair slidably supported by the marginal edges of the respective inturnedflanges of each of said sections.

4. The reel of claim 1, wherein said handle includes an integral guidingsupport for said tape and finger-operated braking means cooperating withsaid support to clampingly engage said tape between said support andsaid braking means upon application of finger pressure thereto.

5. The reel of claim 4, wherein the said braking means comprises a leverpivotally supported by said handle having a finger-engaging lever arm atone side of the pivot and a brake shoe at the other side for directlyengaging said tape upon application of finger pressure to said leverarm.

6. The reel of claim 1, wherein the generally annular housing defines acentral opening, the margins of said opening being configured to definea continuous sinuous surface.

1. In a fish tape reel including a housing comprising a pair ofinterfitting, substantially identical sections of generally annularconfiguration and molded of insulating material; a tape in said housing;means for securing said sections in said interfitting relationshipproportionate to the inner marginal opening defined by said annularhousing; said sections including inturned, continuous peripheralflanges, a handle for supporting and guiding said tape between saidflanges and in slidable engageable relationship with said flanges; thecombination therewith of a continuous inwardly facing concentric web ineach section, radially spaced from said inturned flanges to define acontinuous groove between said webs and said flanges; a relatively flat,rigid elongated strip of electrically insulating material positionedsubstantially parallel with the axis of said reel and slidably receivedin the said grooves of said mating sections; and said handle furtherincluding laterally extending, oppositely disposed fins slidablyreceived in the mating grooves of said sections.
 2. The reel of claim 1,wherein said slidable strip is substantially coextensive with thecircumferential length of said grooves and terminating at both endsthereof in the proximity of said fins.
 3. The reel of claim 1, whereinsaid handle includes at least two spaced-apart pairs of oppositelydisposed, laterally extending, integral fins, one pair of said finsslidably received in said groove and another pair slidably supported bythe marginal edges of the respective inturned flanges of each of saidsections.
 4. The reel of claim 1, wherein said handle includes anintegral guiding support for said tape and finger-operated braking meanscooperating with said support to clampingly engage said tape betweensaid support and said braking means upon application of finger pressurethereto.
 5. The reel of claim 4, wherein the said braking meanscomprises a lever pivotally supported by said handle having afinger-engaging lever arm at one side of the pivot and a brake shoe atthe other side for directly engaging said tape upon application offinger pressure to said lever arm.
 6. The reel of claim 1, wherein thegenerally annular housing defines a central opening, the margins of saidopening being configured to define a continuous sinuous surface.